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M-NCPPC to add 21 positions, launch intake division and DART system in FY2026 budget pitch to PHED
Summary
Maryland‑National Capital Park and Planning Commission leaders told the county PHED committee on March 20 that the FY2026 planning‑department budget requests $52.619 million, seeks 21 new full‑time career positions and will create a new Intake and Regulatory Review Division as well as a new development tracking system (DART).
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission leaders told the Prince George’s County Council’s Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) committee on March 20 that their FY2026 budget request emphasizes workforce investment, reforms to development review and digital upgrades to serve residents and applicants.
Commission leaders presented a consolidated administration fund request that includes a $3.9 million planning-board/commissioner’s office, a $15.2 million Central Administrative Services (CAS) operating budget for the county portion, and a $52.619 million request for the Planning Department. The planning department’s personnel budget for FY2026 was presented as $33.593 million; staff said the department proposes adding 21 full‑time career positions (four reclassifications from term to career, and one new term contract position among them).
Peter Shapiro, chair of the Prince George’s Planning Board, and Acting Executive Director William Spencer, Corporate Budget Director Terry Charles and Planning Director Lakisha Hall delivered the commission’s presentation to PHED. Staff outlined nonpersonnel spending, occupancy costs at Largo headquarters, and a $4.15 million project‑charge line that appears in the administration fund summary.
Key elements presented by planning staff - New intake and regulatory review (IRR) division: The department described a new division to handle intake, technical review and hearing notifications, with an opening planned for summer 2025. Staff said the unit will work closely with county permitting, public works and other agencies to clarify acceptance checklists and reduce back-and-forth that delays projects. - Development-tracking system (DART): Staff announced plans to replace or upgrade the development monitoring system (previously called DAMS) with a new DART system intended to improve public access to application status and internal coordination. - Recruitment and workforce development: The commission reported large candidate pools and strong recruitment activity and said the FY2026 funding request supports succession planning, internships and apprenticeship expansion. The planning department said it will expand a collegiate internship and graduate assistant program and noted partnerships with the University of Maryland, Bowie State and Prince George’s community colleges. - Master plans and studies: Staff highlighted continued work on the Go Prince George’s master plan of transportation, Central Avenue/Bladensburg and Port Towns sector plans, a master and sector plan audit, fiscal-impact studies, and a nascent food‑systems and agricultural planning initiative. - Digital accessibility and cybersecurity: Acting director Spencer said the commission is hiring a digital access coordinator and aims for web accessibility compliance by April 2026; staff also described cybersecurity training and an ERP financial-system upgrade.
Council members pressed staff on implementation and timing. Councilmember Harrison asked how the commission engages younger residents; Director Hall pointed to placemaking events, pop-up activities and partnerships (including the Neighborhood Planning Academy) and suggested more work with professional groups that offer youth-focused programs. Councilmember Hawkins and others asked whether the newly created IRR division and DART would streamline review timelines; Hall said the division is intended to improve transparency and bring metrics to the process, and staff expects the IRR to be operating in summer 2025.
Councilmember Burrows raised concerns about transparency and consistency on project charges and the department’s handling of certain project-charge scopes, saying he had submitted a public‑records request and still did not have a complete list of approved and denied scopes. Chair Shapiro and Director Hall said Parks and Recreation and Planning will appear before PHED on April 3 for a more detailed presentation, and staff committed to follow up and provide information to the council in advance.
The commission also reported contracting and local‑vendor statistics: in FY2024 the commission spent $34.6 million with vendors in Prince George’s County and reported substantial participation by minority- and local‑owned vendors; staff said they are on track to meet or exceed last year’s local procurement levels.
What to watch next: The commission indicated the new IRR division start date (summer 2025), the rollout of the DART tracking system and the April 3 committee session focused on Parks and Recreation, where councilmembers expect a deeper dive on project‑charge administration and parks operations.
